So you wanna go higher?

The new Polar Peak Lift—which opens up new terrain at Fernie Alpine Resort—celebrates 50 years of skiing at the resort

The new Polar Peak Lift extends the vertical at Fernie Alpine Resort. — Image courtesy Resorts of the Canadian Rockies

Matt Mosteller, vice-president of marketing and sales for Resorts of the Canadian Rockies, had a lot to say about the new Polar Peak Lift at Fernie Alpine Resort. The opening of the lift this year celebrates 50 years of skiing at the resort.

“We have been working for a long time on planning this project and reviewing what would be best for guests,” said Mosteller. “This is a huge celebration for the skiing community and for the communities of Fernie, the Elk Valley and Cranbrook."

The new triple Polar Peak Lift will access 22 new ski runs. Mosteller said that now Fernie Alpine Resort has the biggest vertical and the most ski runs in the Canadian Rockies. The resort has an incredible 3,550 vertical feet of snow. Peak views stretch from Lake Koocanusa all the way up the Elk Valley and to Kananaskis Country across the border in Alberta.

Mosteller said construction on the Polar Peak Lift began in early summer and is still continuing, but the major milestone of pouring all of the concrete has been completed. The top and bottom terminals are now going in.

“We would have started earlier,” said Mosteller, "but we still had major snow on the ground, given we had over 37 feet of snow last winter."

He added that skiing the peak also assists in snow-control efforts, and said the new lift will give ski patrol teams access to the mountaintop ridges to open terrain safely and quickly during snow cycles.

The community is excited about the expanded access, said Mosteller, and they have given huge positive feedback.

“I have already seen Ski the Peak This Winter bumper stickers on cars,” he said.

Polar Peak is scheduled to open in early December.